Threatening messages spray-painted on Rancho Bernardo High walls

SAN DIEGO – About 20 threatening graffiti messages claiming there would be a school shooting Monday were found spray-painted around Rancho Bernardo High School's campus Monday morning, prompting a large-scale police presence and an investigation, an officer said.

"Regardless, that was a severe disruption to the school day – as well as it strikes fear in the hearts of students, parents, teachers. This kind of stuff we have to take seriously in this day and age," said Christine Paik, spokesperson for Poway Unified School District.

SDPD investigating threatening graffiti at Rancho Bernardo HS. This is a felony crime. We take all threats seriously & investigate them thoroughly. Those responsible will be held accountable. Anyone with info please call @sdcrimestoppers 888-580-8477 pic.twitter.com/nAHgsJnN2p

Parents received a message from RBHS Principal Dave LeMaster about the messages.

"We immediately contacted San Diego Police Department who are on campus investigating. At this point, the SDPD do not believe this to be a credible threat. We will continue to have police presence on campus for the remainder of the day and throughout the week.

We also want parents to be aware that after seeing the vandalism, many students elected to leave campus before school started. We will be sending additional communication to families later today."

Later in the week, there was a perceived gun scare at Ramona High School and unsubstantiated threats at San Diego High School, San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts and STEAM Academy at La Presa, a middle school in the Spring Valley area.

Officers searched the boy's home, seizing electronic devices but finding no weapons, SDPD public-affairs Officer Joshua Hodge said. The suspect's name was withheld because he is a minor, and details on the nature of his alleged threatening statements were not made public.

Rancho Bernardo High School, with a student enrollment of approximately 2,250, is a comprehensive high school located in northern San Diego County drawing students from the communities of Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Los Penasquitos, Sabre Springs and Carmel Mountain Ranch.

SkyFOX flew over the school around 8:30 a.m. and showed video of police on campus.